My first break up

[sesteve]

Well as the song goes - breaking up is never easy I know but it has to go.......

It was beyond repair as the gearbox had gone and leaked oil everywhere. I was going to have a go and see if I could fix iit but Austin warned me it would be difficult and he wasn't wrong. The seal by the pulley had gone and there was loads of play. But the rest of it was not great either as the pictures show ........
Before ..

 

[sesteve]

Corrosion

The drive shaft was heavily corroded ...

 

[sesteve]

Poor quality

Most disappointing was the corrosion on the edge of the wash tub. This was the last run of twin tubs and I guess the quality was not there as per the earlier models

 

[sesteve]

RIP

I've never got to grips with the hotpoint date codes so not sure exactly what year this machine was. At least I've got the 14890 and a load of spare parts to keep it working ))

This got me wondering how have other AW users felt about their first break ups?

 

[optima]

Hotpoint

I had the same dilemma with a Hotpoint Toploader that we picked up from a customers house the other day & that had a real bad oil leak. I so badly wanted it but i'm afraid it was to far gone to repair, it looked in tip top condition from the outside & that made me feel all the worse for parting with it.

 

[aquarius8000]

Oh no!

Steve! That's tragic!

PLEASE, if it's not too late, please may I have the wash tub lid please? Mine has a crack in it and looks horrible! And anything else you don't want, I'll take.

Shame, these are great, mine is great too!

Chris.

 

[brummybear]

Would Love One !

I would give my high teeth for a Hotpoint twintub. I see them on E-Bay but they go for silly money

 

[aquacycle]

Well, I don't think I'll ever be able to listen to "Knowing Me, Knowing You" in quite the same way again....

 

[sesteve]

Sorry for late response but have been away

Craig - what model top loader was it? At least with the top loaders you can repair the gearboxes and parts are still available but the twin tub seems to be a sealed unit. It was sad as I like to try and preserve machines where I can but this was not worth it and there still seem to be loads available. I'm about to pick up what will be my 3rd top loader tomorrow (I did sell one so will have 2)

Eean - don't give up looking. Sometimes they appear and no one goes for them so keep your eyes peeled. I would get one with the auto rinse for maximum fun!!

Hi Chris. I haven't binned the lid yet so it's available - will try and get the spin lid off too and then they will match. They will be going into storage next week until I move into my new house later in the autumn

Chris - oops hope I haven't ruined ABBA songs for you

S )

 

[supermaticjames]

Steve you probably have sussed this out already but just for everybody's reference the spin lid on most Hotpoint Supermatic's is held on to the actuating lever at the rear right hand corner by two screws, once the screws are removed you open the lid back and gently lift the lid towards you and pull away from you so that the retaining shaft slides out of the bottom left and corner. The lid is now removed! Sorry if I have made it sound over complicated hahaha!

James.

 

[ozzie908]

My 9404

is in the shed as it started to knock when agitating and for the life of me I am unable to get the nut inside the wash tub off, the one the agi screws onto its a bitch and a half so I have left it while I ponder what to do.

Oh dear Steve that detergent corrosion on the top of the tub was pretty grim it looked like it had a right bashing over the years lots of boiling over I would think.

This parting comes to us all at some point its how we end up with a shed full of parts lol

Austin

 

[sesteve]

Hey James

Thanks for that. I was going to look in the service manual as I couldn't fathom it out when I broke up the machine although it was getting dark - my excuse! so that will save me digging it out.

S

 

[chanceskydiver]

First time saw one was back in 80's and was in a neighbours house in their garage spent a lot of time there admiring it
It's a shame has to get scrapped

 

[markluton]

Hi Steve

The later Hotpoint twin tubs suffer badly with top of the wash bowl corrosion. I think in the later production years the enamel got thinner and thinner. They would also suffer from when users would not dry out the bottom of the wash bowl and it would start to rust and then rust through. I saw a lot of later wash bowls with a hole rusted through or nearly. And a lot with rust all round the top.

I have broken up many machines in the past and its not an easy decision. There was one machine I broke up which was total sacraledge and I don't know why I did it and regret it so much. I think it was when my collection I used to have became too much and I was depressed. The machine had some faults and I wasn't thinking clearly and broke it up. I have done some stupid things in the past!

Now I can't have a collection as my flat does not have the room but i have sqeezed in two TTs. I found out recently though I could have an older Hoover matchbox size machine which has given me some hope. The space I have for an auto is smaller than normal so can't fit a 595 or 600 machine in. I had to get a compact auto. Thanks to another member I was informed the matchbox size machines are smaller width and will fit in the space I have...yey! Am now on the hunt.

 

[vacbear58]

Smaller machines

Mark

Matchbox machines are few and far between but keep your eyes peeled for the Servis automatic models which continued into the early 1990s as these will be much more plentiful and will easily fit a smaller space

The link below has much information on them, the earliest models will be contemporary with the matchbox models

Al

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?45869_79~1

 

[markluton]

Hi Al

Thanks for your reply. I was thinking more of a Logic? Those are apparently smaller in width? I know I won't find a true matchbox style as they are so rare now but you never know.
I didn't realise Servis machines were still smaller going into the later quartz style. I thought only the Servis "slimline" models would fit. The size I've got is 55-57 depending on if I can get a machine past the skirting board.

I do like the Servis machines but I don't like the very short wash times. If I remember the 40 wash was about 20 minutes.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Steve

Every collector will inevitably reach the stage where a machine is acquired that is too far gone for restoration.
Next best thing for them is to provide parts to keep other machines working so they don't go to waste.

I hate breaking machines up and the first thing I try to do is remove the fascia and powder drawer. Removing its identity makes it easier to do the dastardly deed, as it is no longer a Hoover A3350 Electron 1100 (yep - I parted one of these out), but a kit of Hoover parts.

Your kit of parts 9404 will enable other machines over the years to keep on going. Machines live on in others and knowing that
Paul

 

[sesteve]

Hey guys

All hectic here so only dipping in and out of AW at the mo.

Austin, I had the same problem with that nut as the service manual says this is the way to remove the gearbox but once I saw the corrosion and coupled with the fact that I wasn't bothered about keeping this machine (they are a bit boring without the auto rinse in my opinion) then it had to go. I tried all sorts of tools and techniques but it just wouldn't shift.

Hi Mark. I would agree - I think all manufacturers have looked to cut quality over the years so that we have virtually disposable machines cos they are so cheap now in relation to how they used to be. Before I got into collecting machines, I too scrapped machines that I would love to own now. My first automatic I bought was a Hoover A3060 which was a great machine. One of my neighbours in York had thrown out a Hoover 1100 A3260 into the back ginnel as the drum had split so I swiped it under the cover of darkness and cannabilised the A3060 as I thought the electron was more up to date and a better machine - the sacrilege!! At least it went on to work for several years even with a dodgy door release button. I guess we all go through this at some point . Good luck with finding a machine for your space. I love my Quartz machines and just wish I could get them sorted out properly

Hi Paul - the shed is pretty full now. One of the Hoovermatics I bought some time ago came with a whole load of spare parts as the rather elderly couple who sold it had gone through a number of machines over the years so I've got pumps, motors etc and some have come in useful already. One funny thing with this couple was that her children had bought her an automatic but she refused to use it so her husband was doing the washing. Her parting comment was she had no idea how she was going to cook the Christmas pudding in future lol. Bless

S

 

[slowspin66]

don't be too sad

Steve a break up is really sad but you have to remember that all those spares go towards saving others. !! This hotpoint twin tub was a bit of a hybrid with the bits form here and there. It went together a treat in the end. The later machines like most things in life were not as good quality than their early relatives !!
I put a rinse function on the spinner but didn't put the switching on . Still it worked great.
I'm sure your machine will live on in the form of saving others !!! Darren

 

[slowspin66]

Always flooding

Flooding the spinner .Thank goodness for the tiled floor !

 

[kevhallett]

I really miss my old Supermatic, was a fantastic washing machine, I bought it second hand as an ex rental, shortly after the guarantee ran out it started leaking, I sent it back to the shop (paying a fee of £30 for call out!) they then broke the agitator shaft in the gearbox! I never saw the machine again and didn't get a refund on the call out. Machine was purchased from David Burys in Grimsby.

 

[ozzie908]

Hello Kev

I just brought mine back into service as its brilliant for collecting dog hair I use it a couple of months a year when its moulting season as I get fed up picking hairs off dark clothes when I am ironing )

Austin

 

[supermaticjames]

@slowspin66

I love you 1460! An iconic domestic symbol of the 60s with the aluminium fascias, chrome trim and crisp white and navy colours. I love how you added the rinsing facility, believe it or not people asked their repairman to add this facility to their non De Luxe machines whether they had extra cash or had another baby on the way and had less time to spend on the washing. I wouldn't advise you to fill the spinner up anymore than half way because if you look inside the spin tub there should be a plastic ring going around near the top and that it tacked to the plastic tub and it usually lets water seep out if you fill it up any further than half way. Also the seal at the top of the top wouldn't be defined as watertight, it's only meant to keep the spray from the can in. I can imagine water would have been leaking onto your floor from inside your machine when that photo was taken and that's not so good.

Steve I was wondering if I could have the top bit of the interlock assembly, you know the bit with all the levers and springs? My 1018 spinner was missing a bit or two from it's interlock and I wouldn't mind replacing my botch job with the proper bits.

James.

 

[sesteve]

Hey slow spin. That's fantastic what you've done there. My gran had that same machine I I always wondered about how I could convert it so at least 25 years later I know it can be done lol. I've thought about adapting a hotpoint so you could drain the washtub in the same way as a Hoovermatic with some sort of valve and a lever on the back as the wash pump is so slow and might of used the machine I've just scrapped to try it out on but alas.... I still have my mind on adapting the T5090 as per the filter flow Hoovermatic that surfaced on here recently - I found the parts diagram for it (below) but the parts are no longer available so I'll have to improvise- I am happy to sacrifice this machine to adaptation as the chassis is buggered.

Hehe that is way too much water but I have to say even though James is right with the construction, the outer spin seems to be pretty well sealed. I've sometimes used the auto rinse on my 14890 and forgotten to open and close the lid after pressing the lid release button and there has been no water left on the floor. At least the clutch means you can't overload the motor although you will get through some clutch shoes

Austin. Did you stop the knocking on yours?

Kev - what a nightmare. You should have had the cost of the machine refunded really. At least then you could have used it towards another.

James - of course you can. I will look to salvage it this weekend as its still attached at the moment and I need to take the rest of it to the dump. I hope I haven't lost any bits from it when I was taking it apart. I'll let you know.

Cheers
S

 

[slowspin66]

Supermatic flooding

Hi James the problem i have had is that the water pressure fills the spinner so quickly that the pump can not get rid of the water quick enough. !! The water can be over the spinner lid before you know it.
The 1400 is a different kettle of fish because i had to fit an electric pump as the old pump was worn out. I have left the pump going and added the rinse water that way the the water never gets too high !!!

 

[supermaticjames]

Thank you Steve! Drop me an email at [email protected] when you get around to doing it.

Would love a 1400!

James.

 

[ozzie908]

Steve sadly...

I am still unable to get the bloody thing apart I have managed to undo the nut on the top of the shaft but the agi drive is still unmoveable and if I take a hammer to it I will no doubt break it as its cast aluminium. So back to the drawing board I go !!

Austin

 

[sesteve]

Well done Austin on getting that nut off - you will have to share your secret. The only way I got mine apart was to undo the support tube from the gearbox and that's when all the rust and gunk fell out. The main issue is that it leaves the wash bowl unsupported and the whole thing becomes flimsy. Let me know if you need the service info and I'll mail it to you.

James - I haven't forgotten, just not had the chance to sort out but definitely will this weekend.

Steve

 

[ozzie908]

Steve

I have a bearing puller that I am going to remove the drive shaft with and this will happen when I have finished using it as knowing my luck it will kill it off lol

Austin

 

[sesteve]

Hopefully not Austin. I used a 3 leg puller and some gentle heat from a blow torch and it came off. You have to protect the top of the agi shaft supposedly with a nut although I've not found one that fits so just used some washers instead. Fingers crossed

S